On April 7, Pakistan and China joined forces to boost cotton cultivation through cutting-edge technology. The signing of an MoU between Pakistan’s Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) and China’s Institute of Cotton Research (ICR) will reinforce the country’s cotton sector. This collaboration seeks to tackle issues within cotton farming and elevate productivity levels.
Cotton plays a crucial role as a cash crop in Pakistan. It stands as the world’s fifth-biggest producer of cotton and holds the position of being the third-largest generator of cotton yarn. This sector accounts for 0.8% of Pakistan’s overall economic output and constitutes 51% of the nation’s income from exports. Moreover, this industry sustains more than 1,000 ginning facilities along with approximately 400 textile plants across the country.
As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), both AARI and ICR will concentrate on boosting cotton productivity via genetic advancements. Their objective is to elevate Pakistan’s cotton sector globally. Being China’s sole national-level institute dedicated to cotton research, ICR focuses on addressing issues within cotton cultivation. Conversely, AARI has maintained its position as a pioneer in agricultural studies since 1962.
This joint effort arises as Pakistan deals with increasing cotton imports. The domestic output has significantly declined, recording a 34% reduction in cotton bales delivered to mills this year. Particularly in Punjab, which is the principal area for cotton cultivation, production plummeted more than 36%, amounting to just 2.7 million bales. The aim of this alliance is to counteract these declines and rejuvenate the cotton industry.
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